FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a list of questions that we frequently hear from our customers. Click on a question to reveal the answer. If you have a question that you don’t see listed here, please contact us, and we’d be more than happy to help.

Do I have to replace my old antenna to receive all Digital TV channels?

Not necessarily. If your existing antenna is in good condition and connected to your wall outlets with quality coaxial cables, you should be able to get adequate reception in good signal areas. However, if you are missing some channels, get a pixelated picture or signal drop outs a new Digital Antenna may be required. Just go to the Freeview site to see the channels available for Australian audience.

What are the benefits of having Digital TV transmission?

Digital transmission allows more data to be carried from the signal source to the end user. Consequently, you get significantly improved picture and sound quality. It also allows a greater number of channels and content to be broadcast within the same frequency range. Other great features that come with digital TV include electronic program guides, parental lockout systems, closed captioning or subtitling to offer hearing impaired people a text version of dialogue. Another benefit of Digital television is its greater resistance to noise created by electrical appliances, which results in less interference and better TV reception.

How do I re-tune my TV and why do I need to do it?

If you just moved into a new property and can’t get any reception, the first thing you should do is run an auto-tune setting on your TV set. Your TV usually stores channels in its memory based on the frequencies your previous antenna was tuned to. For example, if you lived in an area closer to a Sydney transmission tower your antenna would have been using VHF frequencies and your TV stored those parameters in its memory. If you then moved to an area closer to the Kurrajong repeater, your antenna will most likely work on UHF frequencies, so you will have to update your TV tuner’s memory by running an auto-tune. To do that, select the “Settings” option in your TV Menu and look for “auto-tuning” or “auto-scan”. Click “Ok” or “Run” and your TV will automatically search for relevant channels and re-write previously memorised parameters.

Can my new TV aerial be installed in a roof space?

Yes, if you are located in a good reception area, close to a transmission tower. However, we recommend external installation due to a higher possibility of signal obstruction and interference when antenna is installed inside a roof cavity. Modern Digital antennas are quite compact and we always aim to position them towards the back of a roof, so they are less visible from a façade. We understand your desire to keep antennas away from the street view, but we also need to make sure you are getting the best signal possible. Our technicians will work with you to find the right balance between the looks and practicality of your antenna set up.

I have a very tall mast on my roof and I need to install solar panels. Will I still have a decent TV reception?

There are certain areas in Sydney where having a tall mast is inevitable to get a good line of sight to a transmission tower. However, in a lot of cases there is an alternative repeater that can be used for Free-to-Air reception. Quite often people don’t know what options are available and have to put up with an “overkill” structure on their roofs. For example, in most parts of Kellyville, Castle Hill and surrounding suburbs we can access signal from the new Kurrajong repeater. This allows us to get rid of the tall masts with Sydney and Wollongong directed antennas in favour of a much shorter mount with a single High Gain Digital Aerial tuned to Kurrajong.

I’m planning to add extra TV points in my house. Is there a limit to how many can I install?

It depends on the signal level in your area. Generally, in a good reception area with a quality High Gain antenna we can connect up to 3 TV points without a significant loss of signal, providing your cables are in good condition. If you are planning to connect 4 or more points we recommend to install a mast head amplifier (booster) as well to keep the signal above the recommended minimum. Out technicians can confirm if an amplifier is needed once they measure the signal from your existing antenna.

Can the installation of an amplifier improve my reception?

Yes and No… If your existing TV antenna is receiving a good quality signal, but the strength is not there, the amplifier will certainly help. This usually happens when you are located further away from a transmission tower. However, an amplifier will not improve quality of the signal, it may actually do the opposite – amplify the noise that is being picked up by your antenna.

I have a new LED 4K TV, but picture quality is poor when I watch Digital TV. Do I need to replace my antenna?

If you can get all digital channels and don’t get any pixelation or signal drop outs, your antenna is working fine. Quite often people expect to see the same quality picture as in a shop display and it simply can’t be achieved through FTA Digital broadcast, at least not yet. Digital TV broadcast in Australia is currently limited to Standard Definition (720P) and High Definition (1920P). There are only a few sources of 4K resolution videos, mostly supplied on 4K Blu-Ray Discs and selected shows via Internet TV channels.

I live in a regional NSW area and our TV reception is very poor. What options do I have?

If you can’t get reception from the nearest terrestrial tower, you may be eligible to apply for Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST). It provides digital television and radio services to viewers in remote areas of Australia. You will be able to access ABC, SBS and the Australian commercial television networks via the VAST service. The ABC and SBS services are available to all viewers with a VAST decoder, but you will need to meet certain criteria to access commercial channels. Visit My Sat TV for more information and eligibility conditions.

I recently replaced my antenna, but still get pixellation. Is this antenna-related?

Pixelation on your TV can be caused by various factors. While your new antenna can pick up a decent signal it’s also important to check what signal levels are like on the end points. Quite often in older houses you may have poor quality cables, splitters or connections on the wall plates. All of these components will have an impact on the end result and need to be checked. However, if the signal on end points is strong the pixelation is most likely caused by external interference or noise. It may come from a nearby Mobile transmission tower or even your electrical appliances. Finding the source of the noise is part of the solution. Once it’s determined you can use different ways of minimising the interference, such as using a powerful amplifier with built-in interference rejection filters, or changing the cables, or a better quality shielded type.

I live in a unit, close to a transmission tower and use “Rabbit Ears” that only work intermittently. Any suggestions?

Unfortunately, this is as good as you can get with an internal antenna. It might pick up a relatively strong signal being so close to the transmitter, but its strength is not the only factor you need to look out for. Signal quality is another major aspect in getting a good TV reception. Your internal antenna picks up a lot of electrical interference inside the house, hence the signal drop outs. TV antenna system with an external/roof aerial has an advantage of getting a good stable signal and transmitting it through coaxial cables to the end user. Check with your Strata Management – you may already have an external antenna for FTA reception in the building.

Some companies advertise 25 year warranty for their antenna installs. Why do you only provide 5 years?

Major antenna manufacturers only give 5 years warranty even on their best products. We only work with products that have been quality-tested and have proven to be both reliable and high performing over many years. Combined with a professional installation our antennas will easily work for much longer than 5 years. However, we don’t like giving empty promises to our customers. When we give our warranty receipt it comes with our promise to rectify any warranty related issues and we stand by that, but we want to be realistic in our promises. Most common reasons for an antenna malfunction is a physical damage – birds, bad weather conditions, fallen trees, clumsy people on the roof… There are other situations when your antenna performance may be affected by external factors: changes in line of sight to the tower (obstructed by new buildings, trees and other structures) or changes to transmission channels/frequencies. Unfortunately, none of these cases will be covered by our warranty or any other installer’s warranty regardless of the period of coverage. It is your right to ask what is covered by a warranty. Quite often you may find that a longer warranty term is just a meaningless marketing trick.

Sydney Antennas offer a wide variety of services for Domestic and Commercial clients, in Telecommunications, Home Entertainment and Security.